Pipe-wrench.



Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

C. FRECH.

PIPE WRENCH.

APPLICATION man APR.20. 1911.

M W 7 O u a subject of theKing of CHARLES FBECH, OF

STEELTON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

PIPE-WRENCH.

Application filed April 20, 1917.

To all whomc't may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES Fencr'r, a Great Britain, and a resident of Steelton, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have in vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pipe-Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to that type adapted for u& in handling pipes and other cylindrical objects. v

An object of the present invention is to provide a wrench with a fixed jaw which may be adjusted into various positions for accommodating pipes and the like of various diameters, and a wrench wherein a pivoted or movable jaw is provided with a relatively light spring, the spring'being so constructed as to admit of the employment of a relatively small spring which is movable with the pivoted jaw, and which coiiperates with a cam-bearing face adapted to contract the spring at an increased ratio proportionately to the out ward sWi'nging'o-f the pivoted jaw.

The invention further aims at the provision of a fixed jaw which may be adjusted into various positions to distance the same from the. pivoted jaw, and whichis provided with an inclined bearing surface for the reception of the pipe or the like thereagainst, and which may be adjusted by the rotation of the jaw through fractions of a turn to secure minute adjustment.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part described, and in part understood, from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially centrally through the same.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the wrench, showing the open side of the same.

Referring to this drawing, 10 designates a body sleeve provided with an ear 11 at one side which is of less thickness than the external diameter of the sleeve 10. A shank 12 is threaded through the sleeve 10, and has upon one end a handle 13 by means of which the shank may be rotated for adjustment through the body sleeve. An exter- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

is employed and which" Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

Serial No. 163,484.

nally milled collar 15L is threaded upon the V shank 12 and adapted for binding engagement against the inner end of the body sleeve 10 to jam the shank therein when adjusted.

The shank 12 is provided upon end with a fixed jaw 15 which may have relatively flat sides, and which is substantially semi-circular in contour. The curved peripheral face of the jaw 15 is provided with rows of biting teeth which extend from the opposite ends of the jaw 15 to the intermediate portion thereof, and which face one another to provide a pair of opposec its outer like inclined gripping surfaces. If desired,

the jaw 15 may be separately formed from the shank 12 and provided with a seat adapted to receive an angular projection 16 formed on the outer end of the shank 12, and through which pin 17 being carried transversely through the jaw 15.

The car 11 is provided with a pivoted or movable aw 18 of arcuate form adapted to overhang the jaw with a forked shank 19 the arms of which engage against the opposite sides of the ear 11, and are pivotally connected thereto by the provision of a transverse pivot pin 20. The outer face of the ear 11 is provided with a cam bearing surface 21 which extends eccentric to the pivotpin 20 and outwardly therefrom away from the shank 12. The cam face 21 has its inner end located a relatively short distance from the pivot 20. and the outer end of the cam 21 is faced radially a greater distance therefrom.-

The forked shank 19 is provided, between the arms of the fork, with a recess or seat into which is engaged. one end of a spring 22 which carries in its exposed free end the stem 23 of a bearing head 24. The head 24; is adapted to engage the cam face 21 and hold the spring 22 under compression. T e stem of the head is perferablv of greater length than the distance between the cam face 21 and the adjacent inner end of the shank for holding the sprin 22 at all times in a relativelystraight position.

As the head 15 is double-faced, the head may be readily adjusted by rotating the shank 12, and each half turn thereof brings the head 15 into operative relation with res ect to the pivoted jaw 18. Then the siank 12 is thus adjusted into the desired position, the lock collar 1 1 may be turned a pin 17 engages, the.

15, and which is provided up against the sleeve 10 to bind the shank 12 in position. When the wrench is now applied the pivoted jaw 18 is free to swing from the full-line position shown in Fig. 2, to the dotted-line position shown therein, for the reception of the pipe or other cylindrical object between the jaws 15 and 18. The serrations or teeth of the pivoted jaw 18 extend toward the teeth or serrations in the head 15 at the inner side thereof so that the teeth bite into the cylindrical surface of the pipe or the like which is wedged between the jaws 15 and 18. When the jaw 18 is swung outwardly, the head 24 rides over the cam surface 21 and compresses the spring 22. The inclination of the cam face 21 controls the compression of the spring 22, and the same may be so formed as to exert a light positive pressure upon the pivoted jaw to normally urge the same into position over the fixed jaw 15.

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above-specifically described wrench without departing from the spirit of this invention, and being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim 1. In a wrench, the combination of a body sleeve provided with an outstanding ear at one side having a pivotal opening therein, a cam face formed upon said ear and arranged eccentrically to said pivotal opening, a shank threaded through said sleeve and provided with a fixed j aw upon one end and a handle upon its opposite end, means for holdin said shank in adjusted position within said sleeve, a pivoted jaw having one end forked, said forked end pivotally connected to said ear, a spring positioned between the arms of said forked end, a stem projecting longitudinally into said spring to hold the same in a relatively straight position at all times, and a head formed upon theouter end of said stem and adapted for engagement with the cam face of said ear to normally urge the pivoted jaw in overhanging relation with respect to the fixed jaw.

2. In a wrench, the combination of a body sleeve provided with an outstanding ear at one side having a pivotal opening therein and a cam face arranged eccentrically to said pivotal opening, a shank threaded through said sleeve and provided with a fixed jaw upon one end and a handle on its opposite end, an exteriorly knurled collar threaded on said shank and adapted to be Qammed against said sleeve to retain the shank therein, a pivoted jaw provided with a forked shank engaging over the ear of said sleeve and having pivotal connection thereto, said shank of the pivoted jaw having a relatively deep spring seat between the arms thereof, a spring engaging at one end in said spring seat and PIOJGCfiH therebeyond, and a head engaging against t e outer end of the spring and provided with a stem projecting longitudinally through the spring into the spring seat to hold the spring at all times in a relatively straight posit-ion, said head being adapted for engagement with the cam face on said ear to normally urge the pivoted jaw in overhanging relation with respect to the fixed jaw.

CHARLES FRECPL Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

